The core set refresh is upon us, and the Public Test Realm(PTR) has been open for all of us. Thus, I wanted to give my first impressions of the changes and how potentially the meta will shake up after these changes go through for my nature lovers. All of the cards are subject to change as they are in the testing phase, and I will revisit them after they are finalized. Let's be hungry hungry hippos and feast on the nature changes, my fellow nature brethren.
According to statistics, we start with the worst card, and yes, it was begging for a rework. The wording change doesn't make any changes; it only clarifies what the card does; the question here is getting a mana reduction to 0. Can we slot this card in future decks? My answer is yes and no, I see it played in early game decks (Amazon) and no in control decks (wild). I will go in-depth on this position in my conclusion.
We come to our first Amazon on this list, and it got a buff. Instead of just being cornered into buffing nature/Amazons, it buffs any creature with +1 health. The question is if it still has a place in wild variations of nature decks, although it is an option to slot into amazon zoo decks. The buff is more of a ruse than anything else, in my opinion.
This buff is insignificant to push this card to a playable state. The only way I see this played is in nature zoo decks; even then, the buff doesn't make a case for why it should be played, as other cards do a better job.
I am not sure why the dev team wanted to rename this card; I am more confused about the wording on the card. "If you control an other creatures?" My best guess is it's the same as before, with the devs trying to clarify the wording of the card and doing an AHEM confusing job at it. Giving the Card Amazon is where the buff lies, in my opinion, and we will be seeing her hunting with the rest of the Amazons.
Giving Regen 1 is a nice little buff; it could be seen in aggro early game nature decks. It is mainly played to gain board control in the early game, and the Regen 1 will definitely help it see more play.
Our first new card, which also happens to be an Amazon, is essentially a 3/2 with its afterlife, and I definitely see this being played in Amazon decks as it sets the pace for what's to come.
An interesting card that can be utilized in all nature decks, my best guess is that the devs wanted to give an alternative to our favorite broccolini, "Marsh Walker." I also see that giving the card draw wild option with two 1/2's can slot into the midrange control variation of nature utilizing "Henver, Grim Shuck".
Move over Wild Boar, we got a new Fox in town. The dev team essentially usurped wild boar by creating this new card and giving it ward. I believe it was given ward to counteract the rise of magic play and how annoying it gets in the early game with all the spells they use for board clear. I am glad that I have a 2/3 ward wild card, and it was much needed.
A one mana amazon who is 1/3 regen and a +1 health buff mechanic, another no-brainer to slot into your amazon deck, and it will make more sense, when we go deeper into this Amazonian revival.
This could be considered both a buff and a nerf. As earlier, you get to choose the enemy to deal damage, yet have no say in how much damage you will be doing according to the creatures you have on your board. Now it is more akin to all other nature removals, which is "random enemy takes damage," the buff here is you will always know how much damage you will be doing as it is tied to your strongest creature. The card has a low play rate already, and I doubt this change will push it into nature decks, as it still can't compete with cards such as "canopy barrage."
I like that the card got more utility with +1/+1 instead of +3 at the end of each turn. It is neither a buff nor a nerf; in my opinion, it's more of a direction change as it will fit exceptionally well in the Amazon decks. I foresee this card getting more play time with the change.
I love the change to this card, and the mana change is a god-sent. Slotting this card into amazon decks was painful as there are many good five mana Amazons "Myrtos Daughter/ Ferocius Rougarou." This will shoot this card up the ranks due to being a staple in all forms of Amazon decks 2/3, +1/+1 two drop Amen.
Another new addition for the Amazons isn't a flashy card by any means. Although, as stated previously, giving this card ward shows, the devs are aware of the magic removal abuse in the current meta, which gives this card legs for early game board control against magic decks especially.
Canopy Barrage to Canopy Sniper, a removal baked into a creature, is always a good thing to see. It would be a menace if you could keep this card alive (there are 101 buffing creatures for Amazons). I am seeing this card as a staple for Amazon zoo decks.
This shaman got a much-needed buff, and I welcome the change. Now it being essentially wide 4/4 and putting more bodies on the board, and it can be an option over cards like "Rabid Bear ."It gives nature players more options than the stale big beast variations we are seeing currently.
The king of all nature relics is getting hit in the core set refresh. It is going from 2 to 3 mana and 1/4 to 2/2. It also lost the +1/+1 and only get +1 strength if you have an Amazon. It needed to happen to make the relic more balanced, with Amazon decks on the horizon. Is the relic done for? On the contrary, it will be more sought after, especially after this rework.
Giving it a 2 mana decrease with only a wording change is more for clarification. Is this the buff that may put wildfire on notice, at least in early game decks? I see a definite usage spike of this card, especially with how nature as a whole is trending in this refresh.
Both the stat changes and giving it Amazon shoots up the value of this card, and we will be seeing it a lot after this rework goes through. Another no-brainer for the Amazon decks.
HALLELUJAH, PRAISE THE LORD!!! Who cares about the +2 burn? At least now we KNOW it is going to hit the strongest enemy, which is why we slot it in nature decks anyways. If you already don't slot it into your nature decks, it is now a must-have. No more praying for RNGesus.
My best doggo got the buff it needed. I often play this card, and it is instantly deleted due to only having three health. Making it 3/4 instead of 4/3, we can at least use the card text for one turn. Thank you, dev team; my doggo needed it (he is always a good boy and always has a place in my deck).
The first card on this list that is getting a major overhaul; it really did need one. Mana cost going up to 3 and summoning two random one mana Wild creatures is a game-changer, in my opinion. As nature goes an RNG heavy card, I see more playtime for this card with this rework—it could slot in most nature decks.
Another relic getting an identity, just like Faefllame blade, this relic now would slot into wild decks whereas Faeflame Blade slots into Amazon decks. I personally like this change even though it is a minor nerf with mana cost changes and only summoning a walking plant if you control a wild creature.
A new card very similar to "Wiccan Warrior" is just the three-cost version of that. Getting hidden with 3/3 is nothing to scoff at, and it will have a place in most variations of Amazon decks.
I love that the dev team added this card; it is more or less the lower cost "Opalised roots." Many players have been slotting in "Celestial Stag" as their card draw option in this meta. We will be seeing more diversity with this card, making moon deer not the only go-to option for card draw.
Another self buffing Amazon which by now is not surprising, I will be slotting this card 100% in my Amazon zoo decks. As it is a powerful early-mid game card, and if you have a few Amazons on the board, it will give you significant value.
No changes here other than text clarification. One of my favorite Nature Wild cards will still retain its superiority as a board control monster, and I believe we will see the play rate go higher after the refresh goes through.
One would think the faction change is minor, but I beg to differ With the many Wild buff cards such as "Trial of the Hydra" available to nature players. This change, in my opinion, is the dev team going in the right direction and giving a unique identity to the card, and it will still be the premier relic remover for us nature players.
This change is underwhelming, and I view it as a nerf. There is some song but no dance; the 2/2 to 3/3 change is good, but with how many options nature players have for four mana cards, this will probably get buried under them, never to see the arena.
Vanir lion got some major love in this core set refresh, and I would go far as to say this card is the biggest winner. It receives the wild tag, balancing it to a 4/4 with a +2 strength buff without locking it to one turn. Yes, it gets a huge bump in my four mana cost nature list. We will definitely see more of this lion, and I believe the nature player base will adapt to this change.
It gets a buff with 3/5 change and gets the nature tag. I see it being an option in Amazon decks where you don't want to break the "Agrodor Protector" bank. A solid budget amazon card, in my opinion.
As with "Nefarious Briar," the wild tag gives it some juice. Although with other card draw options introduced in this rework, it will be interesting to see how this card will be utilized. It will still be a solid card draw option for nature players.
Another welcome change to an epic nature card. Wild tag good, heal your god for 3 good, add a 7 mana wild creature very good. Firstly making it so it will always give you a card and a 7 mana cost is significant. We may see this Minotaur take the place of "Brazen Moose."
This hippo is mad and confused and wants to get in the arena badly; the question is can it stand out from the other 5 mana cost options. If you're looking for a frontline wild card, it will slot in perfectly; if not, I don't see it thriving. The jury is out on this card, and I am certainly looking forward to seeing how it plays out (Quick shoutout to Black Rhino).
6/6, deal three damage to strongest enemy and get the wild tag? Can it compete with the undisputed six mana king "Giant Pangolin"? In the next episode of how to shake up the meta, we will figure it out. 
With name changes come good things. It gets hidden and a strength buff; it went from a 6/6 to 9/6 board wide. It will definitely be a good late-game option for Amazon decks with Amazon's rising.
Recently I have been running this card in my more aggro decks as a fail-safe in the late game. Although with these changes and a better younger brother ("Grove Summon") coming on to the scene, this card just became one-dimensional. It gives you an extra draw, but it is locked, to 3 mana creatures. Putting this card in the box of wild zoo decks.
Given it a faction change to wild with knowing exactly what your getting, +2/+1 to your creatures. Does that push it to viability? With how the wild meta is being pushed to zoo buff wild decks, and it just may come to prominence.
No changes other than adding the wild tag, which I don't see it layed much as it still has the "deal 3 damage to each creature" tacked on. It won't suit the meta currently nor in the future.
Finally, we arrive at the card I am most hyped about; it can compete and better "Guerilla Gardner." Most of the cards got the wild tag, pushing it even further. Late game, this card has the ability to become an unstoppable monster. I believe "Henver, Grim Shuck" could be the catalyst to make nature players go from Aggro-Midrange decks to more control-based decks.
With this core set refresh, I believe there will be two major playstyles taking prominence. Not that Big Beasts is going anywhere, although I see Midrange-control wild decks and Zoo Amazon decks coming into their own.
Seeing how most of the cards are getting the wild tag especially mid to late game cards, I predict we will see a more controlled playstyle. "Henver, Grim Shuck" is going to play a significant role in molding this meta. Further, we see the card draw options being expanded, with "Groove Summon" and "Opalised Roots" reworked, giving lower cost Wild cards. This gives more credence to my future outlook into the Nature Wild paystyle.
If you haven't realized by now, the dev team is pushing for an Amazon revival with this core set refresh. 6 out of the 11 new cards are Amazon while also giving the amazon tag to many nature creatures, notably being "Geresmi, Freyja's Spear." We will be seeing many variations of this although zoo variations will take precedence in my opinion. Lastly, I want to note that 
As all the above cards are subject to change before being finalized, I will update you if and when that happens. Although, as for now, this is my first impression of the core set changes. I hope you all had a great ranked weekend.
I want to shout out 
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